Wednesday, July 2

Settlement in Works?

I saw this first on the Daily Oklahoman, and my first thought was, "Well, there isn't a grain of salt big enough to take with that sketchy story." A settlement? Sure, it's nice to ponder, but the attribution in that story was rather light.

They are reporting here in OKC that there is supposedly a settlement - but nothing is confirmed, of course ... Clay Bennett is flying back to OKC now ... Clay is giving a press conference at 7:00 pm Central Time.

If a settlement involved Seattle keeping the Sonics and PBC paying the City $25 Million for the Key Arena lease and other damages, Ballmer buying the Sonics for $300 Million or so, and David Stern taking care of his buddy Clay with an expansion team or a Memphis, then I'm fine with that. That would be a great settlement. The Mayor cannot give away the Sonics. Call Mayor Nickels at 206-684-4000 and ask them if there is any settlement. Keep your fingers crossed. Pray a little.

Mayor Nickels Press Conference at 5:00PM. Judge Pechman's ruling now supposed to be at 4:15PM.

Just to make things clear, Mayor Nickels isn't and indeed can not give away the Sonics. Clay Bennett paid $350 million for the team. That being the case, I can't understand why the majority of Sonics fans in Seattle insist that the team is being/has been stolen. You can't thieve what you legally own. Not trying to rile anyone up, I can understand a massive sense of loss/anger. It just bugs me that the entirety of the animosity of placed on Bennett. If you're going to be angry, be angry at your (Seattle/WA State) politicians for calling Bennett's bluff on a new arena deal.

Pechman left it to the parties to disclose the terms but a source said the two sides have been discussing a deal that would involve the Sonics leaving town for Oklahoma City in exchange for up to $75 million payment to the city.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett may not have to pay the entire amount if the city gets another team, the source said.

Delightful. They'll be putting some economic pressure on Clay to lead the charge in getting a team to move to Seattle.

Well, while we didn't feel like making any effort to be successful in Seattle...I think it's a wonderful place and deserves a team--just not the Sonics, because they're ours, for real now."--Clay Bennett, January 2009.